Sir Alex Ferguson appreciates that Manchester City will be competing for trophies for some time to come as the derbies appear to grow bigger in terms of hype with every passing game.

Last season's FA Cup semi-final was billed as a key fixture in the history of the two clubs while City's 6-1 win at Old Trafford and the Reds' dumping of the Blues out of the FA Cup on their own patch were also deemed pivotal moments.

Ahead of a match of undisputed importance, the manager admits that City are overtaking Liverpool as United's main rivals.

"We have to get used to playing City in important games," he stated. "They're not going away. The financial support they have means we'll meet them in a lot of big games. Cup finals, semi-finals... we've already done that. They're there.

"Therefore, if we're going to be contesting with them for the league titles regularly - and I think we will be - it will become almost as important as the Liverpool derbies. Maybe not in terms of the emotions - the Liverpool-United games are emotional. But certainly, in terms of importance, this supersedes Liverpool at the moment because City are our direct opponents.

"Manchester City are up against us to win titles. We have to focus on the team who can affect our progress in terms of winning the league."

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted you would have to be 'a confirmed masochist' to enjoy the intensity of Monday's Manchester derby - but claims to be looking forward to it anyway.
Once again, the Manchester United boss has billed the visit to Manchester City as a Barclays Premier League title decider, with United three points ahead of their rivals going into the match.
'You would have to be a confirmed masochist to enjoy it,' he said.

'But we are looking forward to it and the players will be fully prepared for it.'
Even on Sunday, after his team had won at Wolves to reduce the gap to three points and ensured they will go top if they win, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini continued to insist United had won the title.
Ferguson accepts there may have been an element of Mancini taking the pressure off his side.

'Maybe he is trying to take pressure off his own players. But it doesn't matter. It is not going to affect our approach or attitude to the game.
'We know the exact situation we are in here.

We are in a better position than Manchester City. We can get two results, they can only get one. They have to win. We can draw or we can win, which is what we will be trying to do.'
Ferguson reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, which has been billed as a game of huge significance since the fixtures were first revealed last summer.
'It was inevitable I suppose,' he said.
'It is all down to this game. There will be a considerable number of countries watching it, so I hope it lives up to the billing.'
It is arguably the most important in a succession of derby matches over the past two years, which includes two semi-finals and some memorable league matches, particularly at Old Trafford.
And Ferguson believes that trend is only going to continue.
'We have to get used to playing Manchester City in important games,' he said. 'They are not going away.

The support they have means we are going to be playing them in a lot of big games.
'Finals maybe, we already have done in semi-finals, an important cup tie this season.
'If we are going to be contesting for league titles regularly - and I think we will be doing - it will become just as important as the Liverpool game.
'Maybe not in terms of emotion because the Liverpool-United games are emotional.
'But there is certainly an importance which, at this moment in time, supercedes the Liverpool games.
'They are our direct opponents now. Manchester City are up against us to win titles.
'That is what our focus is on, the team who can stop us winning.'

Manchester City have an incredible home record this season. Roberto Mancinis men have won 21 of 22 games at the Etihad, scoring 51 goals in just 17 games.
The hosts have already thrashed the visitors in this campaign. They famously won 6-1 at Old Trafford back in October, Uniteds heaviest ever Premier League defeat.
In the 6-1 win, City were ruthless in front of goal. They scored six goals from just seven shots on target.
However, on their own ground its a different story. City have not scored at home against United in the league for almost five years.
Manchester United have already beaten Manchester City twice this season: a 3-2 win in the Community Shield and another 3-2 win in the League Cup at the Etihad.
In Premier League meetings between these sides there have been six red cards, and Manchester United have been shown a whopping five of them. Jonny Evans was the last man to see red in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.
The champions come into the game in red hot goalscoring form. They have scored eight goals in their last two games, four against Everton and four against Aston Villa.
Manchester United won the title with 80 points last season. They have already collected 83 points to date and if they win their three remaining games they could equal their best ever Premier League points tally of 92.